Be the Blessing

Remember Chevy Chase in Caddyshack? He encouraged a young golfer to, “Be the ball.” Over the holiday season, a similar, but better, philosophy washed over me. I could be a blessing, especially to my own family. I’ve been so many other things in life that I never really gave it much thought before. Although I’ve fallen short in a lot of ways throughout my life, I truly believe that being a blessing is something I can pull off, by the grace of God.

I recently swam in Silver Glen Springs, one of Florida’s fountains of youth, deep in the heart of the Ocala National Forest. Swimming in one of Florida’s springs is one of my favorite things to do, especially when there aren’t very many people around. It’s cleansing, refreshing, and, yes, rejuvenating. I actually do come out feeling younger, looser, cleaner. It is a baptism of sorts. Between the swim and the idea of being a blessing, I feel like I’ve been baptized into a new way of thinking, perhaps even a new way of living.